Basic Tactical Principles

I can think of no word more overused in the past decades than “tactical.” I just got done reading a bit on the internet with a person asking advice on which “tactical pants” to get. Most of the time this is used the word “fighting” should replace tactical. My fighting gear etc. Because gear, or other items are not “tactical.” People and groups are tactical. Don't worry about having tactical stuff, worry about having smart tactics.

How do we become "tactical?"

There are several time tested principles of tactics that are so universal they apply to all fighting situations. Whether defending yourself from a home invasion at 3AM or ambushing an enemy column in Red Dawn (classic.) I am going to follow this article up with a series of articles and videos on tactics, but before you begin reading about the nuts and bolts of tactics you need to learn and live this mantra.

Surprise: It does not matter how awesome you are at doing something- if the bad-guys know you are going to do it you will probably fail. If you tell the guy robbing a convenience store “I've got a gun and I'm going to call the police” he probably isn't just going to leave. Surprise can be achieved by stealth and deception, but it is always best if your doing what your enemy doesn't expect.

Speed: Once committed to an action you need to do it as quickly as possible. This is what gets you inside the bad guys “OODA loop.” You need to move into your next action before the bad-guy has time to react to your first. Having a plan, having rehearsed and drilled is how you achieve speed.

Security: You need to always recognize that the bad guy presents a threat to you as well and account for this. If you engage an armed robber you move to cover, you threat scan to see if he has buddies. If you are moving through the woods you have flank and rear security out.

Violence of Action: In a threat situation, there are no pulling punches. Lead with violence first. When defending our lives in a self defense situation we shoot to stop the threat and we keep shooting until the threat is gone. When fighting a war we kill as many of the enemy as possible... when they are dead we know they can't come back. The idea is to be so violent that it gives pause to your opponent.

Okay, if you study those principles, war game every situation you can in think of in your head, practice them in dynamic situations (in practice) to the point where you will use them automatically, you have started to be “tactical.”